By Lee W. Mowen

SPRINGFIELD, OH – The Champion City Kings fell to the Lafayette Aviators 2-1 and 5-1 in a doubleheader on Saturday. Jake Miller (Chester, NY; Valparaiso) threw the first complete game for the Kings in 2021 despite suffered the close loss.

In the first game, Lafayette struck first on a fielder’s choice with one out. Jack Lang, the leadoff batter, walked to start the action. A heads-up read of the throw allowed Lang to score from second on Reed Chumley’s fielder’s choice. That would be the last run for the Aviators for a few innings.

Champion City tied the game up in their share of the second, as Dallen Leach (Tallahassee, FL; Gulf Coast State College) blasted a solo shot over the left field fence with one out. His third home run would be the only run scratched in for the Kings against Tanner Solomon and reliever Nolan Lebamoff.

A do-it-yourself job by Ian Laureano secured the go-ahead run, beginning with a leadoff single in the fifth frame. The designated hitter stole second and third base, and a groundout by Dakota Kennedy put Lafayette up for good.

Bo Seccombe (Tallahassee, FL; Faulkner) had his second hit of the game with two outs in the seventh inning, but the Kings couldn’t rally and fell 2-1 in the first game. Miller went the distance on two runs, two hits, seven strikeouts, and two walks. Lafayette picked up the first hit in the fifth inning from Laureano, which turned out to be the game-winning run.

In the second game, it was Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, WI; Valparaiso) reaching first on an error by the shortshop. Mitchell Okuley’s (Powell, OH; Ohio State) base hit moved Ryan to third, and a two-out single by Brent Widder scored the game’s first run. Kenny Serwa and two other pitchers for Lafayette would course correct for the rest of the game, as Champion City could not add on to the early lead.

The Aviators tied the game up in their second against Trey Carter (Wheelersburg, OH; Rio Grande), as Jayson Newman came home on a wild pitch. Three more runs would score against Carter in the third, all the offense Lafayette would need. One more run scored for the Aviators in the fourth, as Drew Behling homered for his seventh time in 2021.

Tyberius Correa (Riverview, FL; Faulkner) gave up the last run, but threw a scoreless fifth inning. Aidan Major (Mill Hall, PA; West Virginia) and Gage Voorhees (Springfield, OH; Flagler College) also threw a scoreless inning each in the 5-1 loss.

Seccombe went 3-for-6 in the two contests, being the only King to collect multiple hits in the doubleheader and in the two contests against Lafayette. Champion City fell to 3-9 in the second half heading into the next series against the West Virginia Miners.

Champion City will host four home games out of the next six, all against foes in the Ohio River Valley Division. West Virginia comes into town for two games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit championcitykings.com for more information on tickets and how to watch the next games on PL TV.